COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – After being selected at No. 20 in the United Soccer Coaches Week 1 National Poll, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs men's soccer team has climbed six spots and are now ranked No.14 in the nation. This is one of the highest rankings in program history, with the highest-ranking being No. 12 which was set Sept. 28, 1999, in the Week 4 NSCAA/Adidas National Rankings.

Sitting atop of the rankings for a third straight week is No. 1 Franklin Pierce University who remain undefeated (3-0-0) on the season. UCCS and now No. 4 ranked Colorado State University-Pueblo, who climbed up from No. 12 in last week's poll, are tied in the standings for first place in the RMAC as both squads have a 3-0-1 record after two weeks of play. UCCS and CSU-Pueblo are the only RMAC representatives in the rankings for a second straight week with Colorado School of Mines continuing to receive votes.

The Mountain Lions had a strong second week, going 1-0-1 on their Texas road trip. UCCS' first match of the week was against St. Edwards University in Austin, Texas, where the Mountain Lions posted a 1-0 clean sheet victory. Next was the No. 3 ranked St. Mary's University in San Antonio, Texas, where UCCS played the Rattlers to a 1-1 draw in a match that saw the Mountain Lions hold a 1-0 lead for 25 minutes until St. Mary's tied it in the 77^th minute. The Rattlers have since fallen to No. 20 in the week 2 poll.

UCCS has been locked in on defense through four games, as their GAA is at .75 goals scored per game, the second lowest in the RMAC just behind Colorado Christian University, who's only played in three matches thus far. Leading the charge for this stellar defensive play is the Mountain Lions goalkeeper, Soren Russell, who was just named the RMAC Goalkeeper of the week in week 1. Russell has the most saves in the RMAC with 20, the second best save percentage at .870, and sits tied for the most shutouts in the conference with two.

The Mountain Lions are now looking ahead toward another big week of action starting with Oklahoma Christian University who will travel to Mountain Lion Stadium for a Thursday night matchup that kicks off at 7:30 p.m. UCCS will then take on No. 13 ranked Rogers State University for a top-15 matchup that is set for a 1 p.m. kickoff at Mountain Lion Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 16.

2023 United Soccer Coaches Rankings
Preseason           Aug. 2                   NR
Week 1                Sept. 5                 #20
Week 2                Sept. 12.               #14
 
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